When Bridget Blake hits the course at the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in San Diego this morning, she'll be seeking that coveted goal of all-American status.

Not many get a chance to earn the label all-American, and the way Blake sees it, she's 23 people away from earn that elite tag that is the ink stamp that means you are one of the best in the country. Only the top 15 finishers earn the elite status.

Last year the three-time Florida state cross country champion and recent Florida State commitment was quite disappointed in her finish at her first Foot Locker national event.

"I was 38th," Blake said Thursday from her San Diego hotel.

For most people, being 38th in the country would be a major milestone accomplishment, but the way Blake sees it, she turned in a poor performance.

"It was 38th out of 40," Blake sheepishly lets on, as if that were something about which to be ashamed. "I want to get all-American as one of the top 15. It's a great challenge and there are a lot of great girls out here, but I feel more prepared this year."

Whether she earns the elite status will certainly no define her career, which she still has not complete at Dr. Phillips. As a student on the Center for International Studies magnate program, Blake will not graduate until May with the rest of hrer 2013 classmates, so she still has a track season remaining.

Not only has she won three straight state cross country titles, she is also the state's two-time defending track and field champion in the 1600- and 3200-meter races. Her times last year were DP record-setting marks of 4 minutes and 56 seconds in the 1600 and 10:42 in the 3200.

Blake laughed at the suggestion that her thunder was stolen away on commitment day when she was paired up for her announcement at the same time with football players Alton Meeks, Eric Harrell and Marcell Harris. Blake announced her choice of FSU and then turned the table over the footballers.

Meeks chose Iowa State, Harrell picked Bowling Green and then Harris went through a charade of choices to tease the crowd before finally revealing a Florida Gators T-shirt and hat with his choice.

"It was a lot of fun and they were all really nice," Blake said. Marcell put on a good show and it was cool to be a part of that with all of them. They were all really heavily recruited."

As was Blake.

"I took two other visits and it ultimately came down to Ole Miss and Florida State," Blake said. "They are both great schools and great programs, but at Florida State I just had such a great time and really made a good connection with all of the other girls and I really love coach Harvey [FSU cross country coach Karen Harvey]. She runs a very consistent program and that really stuck out to me."

Harvey has built FSU into an NCAA contender in short order. The Seminole runners were second in the national championships in both 2009 and 2010 and that was not lost on Blake.

"It's definitely a great relief," Blake said of having her college choice made. "It's exciting to be part of such a great program and Coach Harvey is awesome. I definitely made the best decision I could have made and I couldn't be happier."